| Today's oil and gas industry workers, | | | | needing to be replaced.Rotary drilling |
| including geologists who find crude oil | | | | allows the use of fluids or drilling mud |
| and natural gas deposits; site | | | | as rock is chipped away. The fluid |
| supervisors who oversee field | | | | washes out the drill hole as it goes, |
| operations; and refiners, use computers | | | | making the process more efficient. The |
| and other technology to make their work | | | | fluid also stops an oil well from |
| easier, more efficient and less costly. | | | | bursting forth unexpectedly (known as a |
| And doing that is becoming easier as | | | | "gusher"). |
| more and more technology is developed. | | | | In the best conditions, nature helps |
| Large oil companies have a definite | | | | oilfield workers bring their find to the |
| advantage when it comes to using | | | | surface after a well is drilled. After |
| technology, since advanced technology | | | | an initial surge, either large or small, |
| costs more than small companies can | | | | pressure in the reserve decreases, |
| afford. A lot of the technological | | | | meaning other methods must be used to |
| innovations are not feasible except for | | | | get the rest. |
| big oil companies. But some pieces of | | | | One of those methods is artificial lift. |
| technology are available to all, and | | | | With this method, a pump sucks oil into |
| even the small companies have latched | | | | tubing which then feeds into a storage |
| onto them. Some of the top technologies | | | | container on ground level. Several years |
| in drilling include logging while | | | | back, walking beams-arms which pump back |
| drilling, horizontal drilling, "smart" | | | | and forth like a teeter-totter to suck |
| drill bits, and new methods for | | | | the oil upward were a common site in |
| recovering oil. Basic forms of logging | | | | Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, California |
| while drilling, where a driller views | | | | and other oil-producing states. Another |
| the inside of the hole being drilled in | | | | form of artificial lift involves pumping |
| one way or another, have been around for | | | | gas bubbles into oil to decrease its |
| some time. Logging is used here in the | | | | density, making it lighter and thereby |
| form that you log, or check and write | | | | allowing reservoir pressure to pump it |
| up, what is happening as it occurs. | | | | out. Both of these methods leave much |
| Keeping track of what you are hitting or | | | | oil in the reservoir, meaning other |
| missing helps in future drilling. There | | | | methods must be employed to get the |
| are various techniques of logging. Such | | | | rest. |
| techniques make drilling more efficient, | | | | Water or gas injection are also |
| meaning less money is spent on getting | | | | alternative methods of bringing the oil |
| to crude oil, which eventually could | | | | to the surface. With gas injection into |
| lower consumer prices for oil-related | | | | the top of the reservoir, a gas cap |
| products, such as gasoline. | | | | forms, forcing oil to the bottom and |
| Not all oil deposits are readily | | | | then pressuring it out. To use water |
| accessible to a traditional vertical | | | | flooding, water must be entered into |
| well. In fact, in recent years many oil | | | | another well site connected to the well |
| wells have been dug starting on one | | | | being worked on. The water floods into |
| piece of land and crossing underneath a | | | | all wells, forcing oil to the top, since |
| body of water to another piece of land | | | | oil floats on water. To see this, take |
| to reach the deposit. | | | | any common oil, such as the kind found |
| Surface drilling equipment is offset | | | | in most kitchens, and pour some into a |
| from the oil deposit. At the start of | | | | cup of water. The two fluids stay |
| the drill process, the well is drilled | | | | separate with the oil on top even after |
| vertically, then a few degrees at a time | | | | vigorous mixing. |
| it turns whichever direction is needed | | | | Natural gas can be pumped into a |
| to hit the deposit. Sometimes the arc of | | | | reservoir to mix with the oil, making it |
| the well is great, other times less, | | | | light enough to flow. Another option is |
| depending on how sharp a turn has to be | | | | to use a surfactant or soap-like |
| made. | | | | substance ahead of water and behind the |
| The drilling part that actually tears or | | | | oil. The substance forms a barrier |
| chips away at soil, rock and other | | | | around the oil, and water behind the |
| materials as a well is dug, called a | | | | substance pushes the oil to the surface. |
| drill bit, is an essential tool to | | | | The soapy substance also ensures a |
| drilling a well. In recent years, | | | | thorough gathering of oil. |
| technology advancements have made such | | | | Heat also can be used to get oil |
| tools more capable, longer lasting and | | | | flowing. Up to a million times thicker |
| less expensive. Newer bits, which have | | | | than water, oil can be thinned by |
| carbide teeth and are specially designed | | | | blasting steam into the reservoir. Water |
| for different types of material, can go | | | | is first pumped off, then oil is |
| between 30,000 and 40,000 feet before | | | | gathered. |